Residents asked to share their views on the opening hours of the urgent treatment centre at Newark Hospital as the latest sessions are taking place at the YMCA Community and Activity Village and North Muskham Community Centre
Residents have another chance to share their views about the opening hours of the urgent treatment centre at Newark Hospital.
They also have the opportunity to share their experience of accessing NHS urgent care services overnight.
In response to feedback at previous meetings, an additional event will take place on Tuesday, October 17 at Newark YMCA.
Starting at 6.30pm, the event will be the last of six public face-to-face and online meetings, three of which have already taken place.
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board is gathering the views of local people about the best permanent opening hours for the urgent treatment centre (UTC).
Run by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the UTC is open for 13 hours a day, from 9am to 10pm, which exceeds the national standard for UTCs of 12 hours per day.
It provides urgent care and non-life-threatening treatment for injuries or conditions, such as cuts, simple broken bones, wounds, minor burns and minor head, eye and back injuries.
This is different to emergency care, which is for life-threatening illnesses such as heart attacks, strokes or serious accidents needing immediate treatment from the ambulance service (via 999) and A&E.
The current opening hours were put in place in March 2020 as a temporary measure to address ongoing staffing issues made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to the pandemic, the UTC was open 24 hours a day but was often forced to close overnight at short notice due to a lack of staff availability.
Typically, when the UTC was open overnight, it would treat, on average, one patient per hour, compared to between four and six patients per hour during the daytime.
Dr David Briggs, Medical director of NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board, said: “As shown through the substantial ongoing investment in new services at Newark Hospital, we’re committed to providing high quality, sustainable services for local people, supporting Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s vision that Newark Hospital is a valued and vibrant community asset.
“It’s important to us that as many people as possible are given the opportunity to share their views on and get answers to any questions about the UTC’s opening hours.
“We hope as many people as possible come along to have their say or complete the online survey.”
The remaining public meetings are on Thursday, October 12 from 11am to 12.30. It is taking place at the North Muskham Community Centre, Nelson Lane, Newark.
A British sign language interpreter will be available at the event.
On Saturday, October 14 there will be an online sessions via MS Teams Live Event from 10am to 11.30am.
On Tuesday, October 17 from 6.30pm to 8pm at YMCA Community and Activity Village, Lorde Hawke Way, there will be the final face-to-face session.
To attend people can register via the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire website or online at EventBrite – Newark Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre Opening Times: Public Session.
